Fluid-pressure regulator



(No Model.)

' G. WBSTINGHOUSB, JR. FLUID PRBSSUEE REGULATOR.

No. 280,269. Patented June 26.1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT @Ei-ICEGJ GEORGE VESTINGHOUSE, JR., OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

vSPECIlICLYJJIOlbT forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,269, dated June 26, 1883.

Applicata ined Maren 30,1883. (Numan-1. l

siding at Pittsburg, county of Allegheny, and

' in a receiving-vessel, and in general terms it consists in certain combinations of a case having a through way or passage with a valvegoverned port therein;A a piston-chamber in line with the port, the piston being connected with the valve 5 a valve-governed 'port and passage leading from the piston-chamber to the escape 5 a ieXible diaphragm and chamber, with connection between the diaphragm and escape-valve for unseating the latter by'mo vement of the diaphragm; a passage leading from the diaphragm-chamber to thevessel containing iiuid the pressure of which is to be regulated, and springs co operating with fluidpressure on the valves, piston, and iieXible diaphragm to effect the desired regulation of pressure, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

I have illustrated my present invention in form designed for use in air-.brake apparatus, for the purpose of regulating steam-supply Vto the air-pumps by means of the air-pressure in the main reservoir or in the brake-pipe. It may be employed, however, to regulate the pressure and flow of other fiuids, in connection withother apparatus and for other purposes. I do not wish, therefore, to limit my invention to the specific use described, but include therein all uses and purposes to which it may be applied.

In the drawing, A represents a metal case having a steam-passage, B B', leading through the same, with the usual provision for making pipe-connection to the boiler from inlet B, and to the air-pump or other place ofuse fromV outlet B. Across this passage is formed a diaphragm or partition, b', having a central port, b, therein. Beneath the port in the body of the case is formed a cylindrical chamber, a,

\ by preference of the same diameter as the port.

"hollow stem, c', carrying on the lower end of such stem a hollow or cup -shaped piston, C, which latter is fitted to move .freely but practically steam-tight within the chamber a.. `A small groove, a', is made in the wall of the chamber, or, as an equivalent, in the side of the piston-shell c, to permit steam in comparatively small quantity to pass to the under side of the piston, and thereby secure steam-pressure below as well as above the piston when escape from below is closed. I- Provision is made for such escape by port (l and passage D, leading from the bottom of the chamber to the waste-pipe F. The port d is governed by a valve, d', seating thereon' from above, and

bearing within the chamber through the range of movement of the piston without increased length of case. The passage D is continued past the waste F through the body of the case, and opens into a chamber, E, formed within the enlarged head Al and the chambered screw-plug H. Between the abutting shoulders h of the plug and head is clamped aiiexible diaphragm, c, which is also secured at its center to the under face of disk or `head The winged stem e of valve d rests upon the upper face of ,this disk, whereby upward movement of the diaphragm is eifective in lifting the escape-valve from its seat, while downward movement of the diaphragm permits the` valve to take its seat and close the port, being actuated by steam-pressure thereon from above assisted by the spring cl3.

On the under side of disk Eris formed or The purpose of IOO .from the reservoir or brake-pipe through chamber I-I to the under side of diaphragm e, whereby air-pressure which may exist in the reservoir orbrake-pipe is effective i'ii'raising the diaphragm. This pressure is counterbalanced to a predetermined degree by coiled y spring I', seated against the upper end of chamber II and against nuts 't' i, run on the threaded portion fa" of rod I. A ring-stop, e2, at the upper end of the rod relieves the diaphragm from excessive downward strain by the spring when not sustained by duid-pressure in the chamber. By screwing the nuts up or down (the lower one being used as a jam-nut) the tension of the spring may be adjusted to 'any given amount of pressure-say fifty pounds persquare inch on the under face of the diaphragm.

I have shown the stem of regulating-valve C entering a socket, 1', in the rod B, which screws into the threaded opening s in nut S. The stem of this rod passes upward through the packing-box s and cap S', and carries a hand-wheel, B, by which the rod may be turned, thereby forcing valve C to its seat or releasing it, as may be desired.V The purpose of this feat ire of construction is to provide for using valve C both as an automatic regulator and as an ordinary stop or throttle valve.A In many cases, however, there may be no occasion for such provision, and then the rod B may be omitted, the stem @being guided in any suitable manner-say by a socket formed in the under face of the nut S.

In operation steam admitted through inlet B iills the space below partition b, passing downward through a into and filling chamber a below the piston C. .The rod R being screwed out, steam-pressure below will raise the valve C, assisted somewhat by the spring d3, and steam will pass the valve through B to operate the pump. By the action of the pump, air is accumulated in the reservoir and brake-pipe until its pressure effective below diaphragm e is sufiieient in amount to overbalance the sum of downward pressures upon valve d, and upon the diaphragm exerted by springs d and I', and the steam-pressure upon the valve. This sum or degree of pressure may be varied by adjustment of nuts z', as before described-say to iifty pounds per square inch. Excess of pressure above this predetermined amount will raise diaphragm e and valve d, thereby p affording steam-escape from below piston C.

Such escape will t cause preponderance of steam-pressure upon the upper side of the piston, thereby moving 1t downward, and carrying the valve C to or toward its seat, and-ar! resting or diminishing the iiow of steam to the pump. This condition is continued until airpressure below the diaphragm has fallen below the predetermined standard, when the diaphragm will descend and the valve d will close, thereby shutting off escape and permitting accumulation of steam-pressure beneath the piston. By such accumulation the valve C may be again raised and steam-supply to the pump be renewed or increased.

An important feature of construction adapting the valve to the performance of these functions is its position non the outlet side of port b, the controlling-piston being on the inlet side and exposed to the pressure of the iniowing steam, whereby diminution of steam-pressure below the piston causes the pressure above it to be effect-ive in moving the valve toward its seat.

The same or substantially the same principles of construction may be. employed in adapting the apparatus for use in reducing the pressure of iluids, water, vapor, or gas in pipes; and in this or similar cases the chamber E, below the diaphragm, may communicate by suitable pipe-connections directly with passage B. In such use and application the operation will be substantially the same as above described. lVhether the connection be- B be direct or indirect, the pressure of iluid in the outlet virtually controls the escape through the port d,- and in referring to the control of the escape-valve by pressure of iluid 'on the discharge side of the regulating-valve, I include both the direct and indirect connection as equivalents in the construction of the apparatus.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. In a fluid-pressure regulator, a case having a through-passage and a partition with port therein across such passage, in combination with a regulating-valve seating on the discharge side of the port, a piston connected with the valve and movable within a pistonchamber on the supply side of the port, a valve-governed escape-passage leading from the piston-chamber beneath the piston, and mechanism for unseating the escape-valve, controlled by huid-pressure on the discharge side of the regulating-valve, substantially as set forth.

2. The case A, having through-passage B B, port b, and piston-chamber a therein, in combination with regulating-valve C, seating on the discharge side of the port, piston G, connected with the valve and exposed to 'fluidfluid-.escape from the lower side of the piston, controlled by pressureoffluid on the discharge side of valve C, and a stem, R, for forcing valve C to its seat to shut off fluid-passage, substantially as set forth.

3. The ease A, having therein through-passage B B, port b, piston-chamber a, and escape D, in combination with valve C, piston tween the diaphragm-chamber and the outlet- IOO IIO

pressure on the supply side of the port, a

C', connected to the valve, the two being on opposite sides of the port7 escape-valve d', and

spring d3, seated between the escape-valve and piston, substantially as and for the purposes 5 set forth. l

4:. The combination of regulating-valve C, piston C', having extended cylindrical shell c*3 thereon,the piston being connected to the valve by ahollow stem, valve d', having guide-stem 1o d2, and spring d3, seated at one end within the piston-she11 and at the other end upon valve d', substantially as set forth.

5. The ease A, having Vtherein through-passage B B,port b,chan1ber a, passage D, chamberE7 and passage H', in combination with 15 regulating-valve 0, piston C', the t'wo being connected on opposite sides of the port, escape-valve d', spring d3, diaphragm e, rod I7 adjustable spring I7 and nuts i, substantially as set forth. 2o

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my R. H. WHITTLEsnY. f 

